Biological Surveys

Pacific Rim Conservation undertakes a variety of biological surveys and monitoring for a wide range of partners throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region. We use scientifically recognized methods to measure presence, abundance, and status of bird, bat, plant, and pest populations. Techniques include transects, point counts, and other distance-based methods, mist-netting and banding, mark-recapture analysis, spot-mapping, nest searching and monitoring, geolocation, and GIS. When possible, results from biological surveys are submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

White Tern Census on Oahu

In 2016, we conducted an island-wide census of the White Terns breeding on Oahu to follow up on the original census done in 2003. The goals of this project are to better understand Tern biology, and also to document occurrence of the birds so that tree trimmers city wide can work to avoid nests. We have been working with the state for the last year to develop this both to provide education opportunities and to help arborists ensure they are in compliance with the law. To view an interactive nest map in google earth and to record nest sightings in this citizen science program, go to www.whiteterns.org.

Lehua Islet Seabird Monitoring

For two years we have worked with partners at Island Conservation and the Kauai Endagered Seabird Recovery Project to monitor seabird species abundance and reproductive success prior to removing rodents from Lehua Island (pictured above), a small island 20 miles west of Kauai. By determining the approximate number of birds and their reproductive success before and after rat removal, we will be able to quantify the impact that rats were having on the ecosystem.

Kaena Point Seabird and Ecosystem Monitoring

For more than six years, we have worked with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife to monitor seabird abundance and reproductive success at Kaena Point after the removal of invasive predators in 2011. We have also been experimenting with social and acoustic attraction to increase seabird numbers and diversity within the reserve by attempting to attract Black-footed Albatrosses to the reserve; results can be downloaded here.

Albatross Foster Parent Program

For the last eight years, we have worked with the U.S. Navy and landowners on Kauai to help find foster parents for Laysan Albatross eggs that would otherwise be destroyed. Approximately 80 albatross pairs attempt to breed each year at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, but because this creates a collision hazard for military aircraft (flying albatrosses can ground planes), the eggs are removed. The eggs are placed in an incubator, and in mid-December, albatross nests on Kauai’s North Shore are visited to determine if their eggs are fertile. If albatross on the refuge are incubating inviable eggs, they are given a ‘foster egg’ from PMRF so that those birds still have a chance at survival. During this project, we have also assisted the Cornell Lab Albatross Cam project by ensuring the nest that is being filmed has a fertile egg. In 2017, the Cornell albatross cam chick (Kalama) was part of our foster parent program. Results of the foster parent program can be downloaded here

Oahu Elepaio Surveys and Monitoring

We have conducted several island-wide surveys and long-term monitoring of Oahu Elepaio populations to evaluate effects of predator control and mosquito-borne diseases, including estimation of annual survival, nest monitoring, and calculating population growth, in collaboration with the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Army, and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.Report 15, Report 22, Report 41